Meet the World's Most Elegant Equestrians at the Saut Hermès
A rider at the Saut Hermès. Photography by Giampaolo Vimercati
Those who aren’t frequent travelers to Paris probably know the Grand Palais best as a ribbed glass backdrop for the runway shows of Paris Fashion Week. But Chanel is not the only storied French house with a lock on the iconic Art Nouveau exhibition space, which otherwise hosts everything from rare book fairs to classic cars to the world’s most prestigious antiques biennial. Since 2009, Hermès has also sponsored a swanky affair showing off the most impressive examples of a species prancing around majestically. But in their case, the fillies are actual fillies. Earlier this month, the luxury brand hosted the Saut Hermès, an annual weekend of competitive show jumping, which has quickly become one of the most prestigious events on a circuit that also includes the Rolex Grand Prix in Geneva and the Longines World Cup in Lyon. “Look at this gorgeous building we’re jumping in,” said the Olympic gold medalist Laura Kraut, one of three Americans competing in a thoroughly international group that totals 60. “It’s like nothing else you’d find in the world.” This is especially when decked out in blue, gold and green bunting, with tangerine trees and a band of brown Hermès ribbon lining the ring instead of banners for razors and beer.
Edwina Tops-Alexander. Photography by Giampaolo Vimercati
The Saut Hermès might be the most intuitive extension for a company that started out as a saddlemaker, and that has kept the horse close to its heart ever since. “We’re here for contact with our origins,” said Hermès CEO Axel Dumas at the kickoff before the assembled competitors. (He wasn’t referring to the fact that his cousin, Pierre-Alexis Dumas, Hermès’s artistic director, wrote his art history thesis on the Grand Palais.) Since its founding in 1837, Hermès has certainly branched out to other areas of expertise—the house now produces men’s and women’s ready-to-wear, jewelry, leather goods, porcelain, furniture, perfume and of course silk scarves—but the horse pops up everywhere. The heavy silk of that scarf, which, since it launched in 1937 has become one of their cultiest products, is made of the same type of twill that was used to dress jockeys. And of course Hermès never stopped making riding equipment, as evidenced by the number of competitors astride Hermès saddles, flicking Hermès crops and miraculously keeping their tight white Hermès breeches spotless. This season, fashion and sport joined even closer for the house with the debut of the first functional Hermès women’s riding boot from the design mind of Pierre Hardy, who normally contents himself with designing lovely boots, sandals and pumps for Hermès fans who do not necessarily have careers as show jumpers.
The Pierre Hardy x Hermès riding boot. Courtesy Hermès
The crowd at the Saut Hermès featured a lot of Kellys, Birkins, and quilted Barbour jackets. The snack stand serves macarons, Panini bonbons and champagne. And where most sport concessions deal in spandex and nylon, here Hermès saddles, ponchos, quilted jackets, crops, and saddle oil were on sale. And of course scarves.
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